Chinese Azurite Specimens
There are all grades of azurite being found in China. Some is basically massive and not of collector grade. Others show vugs and crystals of small size which are bright and flashy but also common. Some better material has a fine luster and deep blue color not unlike that of the more famous azurite locations such as Tsumeb, Bisbee and Morocco. In rare instances everything comes together and the specimens have all the desired traits of any fine azurite. We tend to focus on the very best azurites and seldom purchase the lower end material which is readily available at any mineral show for a reasonable price.
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OKH-536 Azurite on Malachite Liufengshan Mine, Anqing-Guichi District, Chizhou Prefecture, Anhui Province, China. Here is the most substantial fine I was able to acquire this year, 2011, at Tucson. This is the best one I have personally seen from the location. Most of the material from the region is massive or has little crystals and not much malachite to speak of unless it is botryoidal or stalactitic. It is the very first locale discussed in Guanghua Liu's book, "Fine Minerals of China". This one is 12 x 9 x 6 cm. Crystals are the highest luster imaginable and up to 1.5 cm, averaging around a cm each. They sit up well off the malachite which is velvety and rub free. No damage. Far superior to any in his book by light years for its aesthetics. In hand very impressive...the photos are only so-so. Undulating mounds of material in a shallow vug like display for these lustrous and translucent azurites. No damage and mounted engraved acrylic base. This fine cabinet specimen certainly ranks among the very best azurites to have its origins in China. $5,000
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OKI-727 Azurite and Malachite Liufengshan Mine, Guichi District, Chizhou, Auhui Prov., China. Literally tons of azurite and malachite have been shipped from China to collectors here in the states. The azurite “balls” are certainly spectacular but the rest is normally lacking in most regards. This specimen is an exception! Supper high luster and nice crystal form make it a real Bisbee look a like. The azurite crystals sit together in a cluster within the malachite in an aesthetic display. They are to over a cm each, translucent and of fine luster. Measuring in at 7.4 x 6 x 4 cm, this small cabinet piece is a real looker. Minor mineralization on back of specimen, as well. A couple edge crystals looked to have had contacts but appear to be etched or regrown so I would have to describe this specimen as damage free. Totally outstanding for a Chinese azurite. 950$
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OKF-419 Azurite Ball Yangchun Mine, Mao Ming, Guangdong Prov., China. China has rarely been able to compete with fine American and South African azurite specimens… pieces like this are an exception. This is the best of these specimens that I have owned over the many years that they have been available. The ball measures 8 cm in diameter and has crystals to 1.8 cm (with most averaging better than a cm each). It is of the highest luster and deepest blue color that can be found for the species anywhere. All sides are equally well mineralized with the exception of one (which has smaller crystals). This damage free ball is a stunning eye catcher in even the most aesthetic display case. Holding this fine piece really brings home how substantial it is. I have sold many higher priced azurites over the years, but I believe this may be the finest azurite I have ever owned. Thankfully the Chinese specimens have not been in as high demand as domestic and African varieties. Comes with a custom engraved acrylic base. A fine value at…1,500$
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OKE-270 Azurite Ball Chengmenshan, Jiangxi Prov., China. I will begin by saying that these are among some of the finest azurite specimens I have ever seen from any location. They are highly aesthetic and composed of large crystals. I found a total of nine of these beauties at this year’s Tucson show and grabbed them all up. There were a couple others which had noticeable damage which I passed on. They are likely from an old find which did produce a few nice balls like this. They were certainly few and far between then. Now they are nearly impossible to find. This ball is well formed measuring 8 x 6.9 x 5.8 cm and is the top deep blue color that one expects in a top azurite (and which is nearly impossible to photograph well). The crystals are blocky and radiate out in fan like patterns with single crystals averaging about .5 to a cm on single edges. Minor touch marks to a few crystals but not at all distracting to the appearance of this fine piece. A free floater which is displayable from any angle and quite amazing. A exceptional, aesthetic and rare specimen at this level of quality. 1,100$
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OKE-271 Azurite Ball Chengmenshan, Jiangxi Prov., China. I will begin by saying that these are among some of the finest azurite specimens I have ever seen from any location. They are highly aesthetic and composed of large crystals. I found a total of nine of these beauties at this year’s Tucson show and grabbed them all up. There were a couple others which had noticeable damage which I passed on. They are likely from an old find which did produce a few nice balls like this. They were certainly few and far between then. Now they are nearly impossible to find. This ball is well formed measuring 8.2 x 7 x 5.7 cm and is the deep blue color that one expects in a top azurite (and which is nearly impossible to photograph well). The crystals are blocky and radiate out in fan like patterns with single crystals to a cm on single edges. Some areas have small contacts to crystals but not at all distracting to the appearance of this fine piece. The base on this one is flat and not mineralized so it is not a true floater but displays with nice views from every side and angle. A great example of difficult to get material. 400$
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OKE-272 Azurite Ball Chengmenshan, Jiangxi Prov., China. I will begin by saying that these are among some of the finest azurite specimens I have ever seen from any location. They are highly aesthetic and composed of large crystals. I found a total of nine of these beauties at this year’s Tucson show and grabbed them all up. There were a couple others which had noticeable damage which I passed on. They are likely from an old find which did produce a few nice balls like this. They were certainly few and far between then. Now they are nearly impossible to find. This ball is well formed measuring 7 x 7 x 5 cm and is the deep blue color that one expects in a top azurite (and which is nearly impossible to photograph well). The crystals are blocky and radiate out in fan like patterns with single crystals to 1.3 cm on single edges. Some areas have small contacts to crystals but not at all distracting to the appearance of this fine piece. A little very minor malachite pseudomorphing. This one is a fully crystallized floater which is not perfectly round (more flattened in appearance. A great example of difficult to get material with large crystals and excellent aesthetics from all views, including beneath! 700$
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OKE-273 Azurite Ball Chengmenshan, Jiangxi Prov., China. I will begin by saying that these are among some of the finest azurite specimens I have ever seen from any location. They are highly aesthetic and composed of large crystals. I found a total of nine of these beauties at this year’s Tucson show and grabbed them all up. There were a couple others which had noticeable damage which I passed on. They are likely from an old find which did produce a few nice balls like this. They were certainly few and far between then. Now they are nearly impossible to find. This ball is well formed measuring 5.5 x 4 x 4.2 cm and is the deep blue color that one expects in a top azurite (and which is nearly impossible to photograph well). The crystals are blocky and radiate out in fan like patterns with single crystals to a cm on single edges. Some areas have small contacts to crystals but not at all distracting to the appearance of this fine piece. The back on this piece is poorly mineralized so it is not a true floater but displays with nice views from every side and angle except the back. A great example of difficult to get material. 375$
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OKE-274 Azurite Ball Chengmenshan, Jiangxi Prov., China. I will begin by saying that these are among some of the finest azurite specimens I have ever seen from any location. They are highly aesthetic and composed of large crystals. I found a total of nine of these beauties at this year’s Tucson show and grabbed them all up. There were a couple others which had noticeable damage which I passed on. They are likely from an old find which did produce a few nice balls like this. They were certainly few and far between then. Now they are nearly impossible to find. This ball is well formed measuring 6.2 x 6 x 5 cm and is the deep blue color that one expects in a top azurite (and which is nearly impossible to photograph well). The crystals are blocky and radiate out in fan like patterns with single crystals to 1.3 cm on single edges. Some areas have small contacts to crystals but not at all distracting to the appearance of this fine piece. The base is poorly mineralized but all other sides including the back view great. A very aesthetic example of this tough to find material. 400$
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OKE-073 Azurite Ball Chengmenshan, Jiangxi Prov., China. I will begin by saying that these are among some of the finest azurite specimens I have ever seen from any location. They are highly aesthetic and composed of large crystals. I found a total of nine of these beauties at this year’s Tucson show and grabbed them all up. There were a couple others which had noticeable damage which I passed on. They are likely from an old find which did produce a few nice balls like this. They were certainly few and far between then. Now they are nearly impossible to find. This ball is well formed measuring 7.4 cm in diameter and is the deep blue color that one expects in a top azurite (and which is nearly impossible to photograph well). The crystals are more blade like and up to a cm in size each. There is some minor malachite pseudomorphing. Damage free floater which is displayable from any angle and quite amazing. 420$
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OKE-194 Azurite Ball Chengmenshan, Jiangxi Prov., China. This fine azurite ball is highly aesthetic and composed of large crystals. I found a total of nine of these beauties at this year’s Tucson show and grabbed them all up. There were a couple others which had noticeable damage which I passed on. They are likely from an old find which did produce a few nice balls like this. They were certainly few and far between then. Now they are nearly impossible to find. This ball is well formed measuring 6 x 5.8 x 5.2 cm and is the deep blue color that one expects in a top azurite (and which is nearly impossible to photograph well). The crystals are thick and blocky and very large. Some crystals are up to 2 cm each and most are well over a cm on edge. This floater is displayable from any angle and quite amazing. There are a couple minor rubs that are not readily evident. This is a top shelf azurite specimen at a low price due to the overall lack of appreciation of these fine minerals from China. Killer specimen…. 600$
